Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-04-24
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IS decros4..,d 4 warm welcome 81 any rate.
6eIl. i hope you win like Il.
Just as he finished his story they got 70
the TOP of the rise over which the ostrleh
had pursued Bessie Croft, and saw kafnr
coming towards them, leading the pony IN
one hand and Captain NiePs horse IN the
other. About hundred yards Dehina tne
horse lady was walking.
"Ah," said Bessie, they've caught the
horses, and here IS jess come to see Whae
is the matter"
By this time the lady in question was
quite close, so that John was able to get
| first impression of her. She was small ana
rather thin, with quantities Of curling
brown hair; not by any means lovely wo-
man. as her sister undoubtedly was, but
Dossessiug two very remarkable character
| isties-a complexion of extraordinary and
uniform paIlOr, and a pair OF the most
beautiful dark eyes he ever looked on. Al
together, though her size was almost IN
significant, she was q striking-looklng per-
son, with q face one was not likely to for
get Before he had time to observe any
more they were mp to them.
''What on earth is the matter, Bessie?"
she said, with quick glance at her COM
panion. and speaking in low, full voice,
with Just slight South African accent,
that is taking enough in pretty woman.
WhereupOn Bessie broke out with history
of their adventure, appealing to her COM
paniou for confirmation at intervals.
Meanwhile her sister jess stood quite
still and silent, and it struck Captain Mel
that her face was the most singularly im-
pressiye one he hadseyer seen. 1t never
changed, even when her sister told bow the
ostrich rolled on her and nearly killed her,
or how they finally subdued the foe.
| "Dear me, " be thought to himself, what
a very remarkable woman! She can't have
much heart" But inst as he thought 1t
the girl looked up, and then he saw where
the expression lay. 1t was in those re-
markable eyes. ImpaSsive as her face was,
the dark eyes were alight with life aud a
sort OF excitement that made them shine
gloriously. The contrast between the
shining eyes and the impressive face be-
meath them struck him as so extraordinary
a. to be almost uucaDny; and asa matter OF
fact. it was doubtless both unusual and re-
| markable.
''You have had wonderful escape, but
am sorry for the bird, " she said at last.
"Why?" asked John.
Because we were great friends. | was
the only person who could manage him. F."
YES" put in Bessie, 1.-THE savage brute
would follow her about like dog. 1t was
lust the oldest thing / ever saw. But
come on; we must he getting home, it's
growing dark. Mouti" (medicine)- ad-
dressing the Kaffir in Zulu-"help Captain
Mel on to his horse. Be careful that the
saddle does not twist round; the girths
NAV be loose"
'"Thus adiured, John, with the help Of
the Zulu, clambered into his saddle, an eX-
ample that that the lady quickly followed
and they once more set off through the
gathering darkness. Presently he became
aware that they were passing mp drive
bordered by tall blue-gums, and next min
ute the barking of large dog and the sud
den appearance of lighted windows told
him that they had reached the house. At
the dOOr-Or, rather, opposite to it, for
there was veranda in irOnt-they stopped
| and got off their horses As they did so,
ont of the house there came shout OF wei
come. and presently in the doorway, show
ing out clear against the light, appeared a
striking and, in its way, most pleasant
figure He-fOr it was man-was very
tall, or, rather, he had been very tall
| Now he was much, bent with age and
rheumatism. His long white hair hung
low upon his neck, and fell hack from n
prominent brow. The top of the head was
quite bald, like the tOnSure Of priest, and
shone and glistened in the lamplight, and
round the oasis the thin white locks fell
down. The face was shrivelled like the
surface of a well-kept apple, and, like an
apple, rosy red. The features were aqnlline
and well-marked, the eyebrows still black
aud very bushy, and beneath them shOne
| a pair of gray eyes, IA keen and bright rs
hawks. But for all its sharpness, there
was nothing unpleasant or fierce about
| the face. On the contrary, it was pcryaded
nv q remarkable air of good-nature and
pleasant shrewdness. For the rest, the
man was dressed in rough tweed clothes,
| tall riding-bOOts, and held Il brOad-brim-
med BOer hunting-hat in his hand. Such
was the outer man OF old SilaS Croft, one
| of the most remarkable men in the Trans
vaal. as John Mel first saw him.
as that you, Captain Niel?" roared out
| the stentorian voice. 1.-The natives said
YOU were coming. A welcome to you! l
am glad to see you-very glad. Why, what
is the matter with you?" he went on as
the Zulu MOuti ran to help him of his
horse.
Matter, Mr.. Croft?" answered John:
"why, the matter is that your iayOrite
ostrich has nearly killed me and your niece
here, and that have killed your favorite
ostrich"
Then followed explanations from Bessie,
during which he was helped of his horse
and into the house.
at serves me right" said the old man.
"TO think of it now, Just TO think OF it!
Well, Bessie, my love, thank God that you
escaped-aye, aud you too Captain Mel.
Here, you boys, take the Scotch cart aud a
couple of oxen and go and latch the brute
home. We may rs we'll have the feathers
off him, at any rate, before the a@svOgels
(yultures) tear him to bits"
After he had washed himself and tended
his injuries with arnica and water, John
managed to get into the principal sitting
room, where supper was waiting 1t was
very pleasant room, furnished in Euro
pean style, and carpeted with mats made
of springbuck skins In the corner was q
piano, and by it bOOtcase, filled with the
works of standard authors, the property, Is
John rightly guessed, Of Bessie's sister
Jess.
Supper went off pleasantly enough, and
after it was over the two girls sang and
played while the men smoked. And here
fresh surprise awaited him, for after
Bessie, who had now apparently almost re-
covered from her mauling, had played a
piece or two creditably enough, Jess, who
so far had been nearly silent, sat down Il
the piano. She did not do this willingly,
indeed, for it was not until her patriarcha
uncle had in insisted in his ringing, CHEEKY
voice that she should let Captain Mel heal
how she cOnld sing that she consented
But at last she did consent, and then, after
letting her fingers stray somewhat aim
r leSSly along the chords, she suddenly broke
= out into such song rs John Mel had neve
heard before. Her voice, beautiful rs i
, was, was not what is known as cultivated
/ yoi.a and ~ UNA n German song and there